General Information

A Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Mobility-Impaired General Gun Permit is a type of limited entry permit that is required in order to participate in general gun hunts on Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge. These are U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hunts issued by FWC. If you have questions about the refuge's rules and regulations or would like further information on the hunts, please go to http://www.fws.gov/saintmarks/. Click "Application Worksheet" at the bottom of this page for specific hunt dates.

Cost: $5.00 to apply in Phase I, if successful, the permit fee is $27.50. There is no application fee in Phase II.

Requirements: There is a non-refundable $5 application fee in Phase I. You must be certified by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as Mobility-Impaired in order to apply. View the Mobility Impaired page for more information on obtaining Mobility Impaired certification.

Issuance Method: Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun permits are issued by random drawing during Phase I. Once the drawing is conducted, successful Phase I applicants must purchase their permits by the specified deadline. Permits not purchased by the deadline (see Application Dates & Deadlines below) will be forfeited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis in Phase II. In the Phase I random drawing, applicants are selected based on their preference points. Applicants with the highest number of Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun preference points are selected before those with less Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun preference points.

Exemptions: There are no exemptions; you must have a Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun permit or be the helper of a permit holder to participate in these hunts.

Restrictions: You may submit one Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun application and receive one Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun permit in Phase I. Successful applicants must purchase their permit by the deadline, or it will be forfeited and sold in Phase II.

Group Applications: Group applications are only accepted in Phase I (helpers should not be included as a group member). A group application assures that all mobility-impaired members of the group (5 maximum) go through the random drawing as one application. If successful, all members of the group receive an opportunity to purchase a Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun permit, even if there is only one permit left. Each mobility-impaired group member must submit an application and join the group during the Phase I application period. You cannot add members to a group application after the Phase I application period ends.

Preference Points: If you apply during Phase I and are unsuccessful, you will be awarded one Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun preference point for next year (even if you get issued a permit in Phase II). Preference points are cumulative and you will receive one additional Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun preference point each year you apply in Phase I and are unsuccessful. If you apply during Phase I next year, and are drawn for a Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun permit, your Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun preference points will be reset to zero, even if you fail to purchase your permit by the deadline. No preference points are awarded if you fail to apply in Phase I. If you fail to apply during Phase I for two consecutive years, your preference points will be reset to zero.

Guest Permits: Guest permits are NOT available for this permit type. Mobility Impaired hunters are allowed to bring one helper. If the helper hunts, Helper Permits will be issued at the pre-hunt briefing. The helper and Mobility Impaired permit holder must share a single bag limit.

Drawing Results: Drawing results are typically posted within about two weeks after the end of the application period. If you are successful in the Phase I drawing, you must purchase your permit by the specified deadline. Permits not purchased by the deadline (see Application Dates & Deadlines below) will be forfeited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis in Phase II. If you are successful in a drawing and you have provided a valid, non-blocked, email address, your permit will be emailed to you as well as posted to your record online.

Reprints: You can reprint lost or destroyed non-transferable Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun permits online for $2.00 plus handling fees or at a license agent or tax collector office for about $2.50. Receipts, temporary license numbers, and printed copies of Internet pages may not be used as a Saint Marks NWR Mobility-Impaired General Gun permit.

How to Apply: You can apply online (sign on and choose “Apply for Limited Entry/Quota Permit”) or complete the Application Worksheet (click "Application Worksheet" at bottom of page) and present it to any license agent or tax collector office. Children and residents who do not hold a Florida drivers license or Florida ID must apply as non-residents to use the online system.

How to Get Your Permit: If successful in the Phase I random drawing, you can pay for and print your permit online, at a license agent or tax collector office. Permits issued in Phase I will be available in the system for printing online, by a license agent, or tax collector until the permit purchasing deadline. Permits not purchased by the deadline (see Application Dates & Deadlines below) will be forfeited and issued in Phase II. In Phase II (First-Come, First-Served Leftovers) you are immediately awarded your permit, and the license agent or tax collector will immediately print your permit. If applying online in Phase II, you can immediately print or save your permit. The permit will remain available online until the last day of your hunt. If you choose to pay for your permit online, be sure you have access to a printer and to disable your browser’s pop-up blocker, so that you can print or save your permit directly from the website. If you are successful in a drawing and you have provided a valid, non-blocked, email address, your permit will be emailed to you as well as posted to your record online.

Pursuant to section 120.74, Florida Statutes, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has published its 2016 Agency Regulatory Plan.

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing..